Credit card

ABSTRACT

A credit card utilization system. A plurality of credit cards are provided. Each credit card bears an elongate strip of sound recording material including a recorded code word known only to the owner of the card. A plurality of card reading devices for reproducing the code word recorded on said strip are also provided. The card reading devices each include a housing, an inlet slot in a first wall of the housing for receiving a credit card to be read, an outlet slot in a second wall of the housing for discharging a credit card, rotatable wheels within the housing and positioned such that, on rotation of the wheels, the card is transported in a straight path through the housing. The card reading device also includes sound reproducing means for reproducing the code word recorded on the strip which includes a sound reproducing head moveably mounted within the housing and moveable between a first position in which the head is spaced from the straight path and a second position in which the head is in sound reproducing association with the strip for reproducing the recorded code word. A trigger member in the device is actuated by motion of the card along the straight path and moves the sound reproducing head from the first position to the second position for reproducing the code word recorded on the strip. The device also includes listening means to permit an operator of the device to listen to the reproduced code word for comparison with a code word given orally by the card owner.

United States Patent Dobosi 1 May 27, 1975 [54] CREDIT CARD cards areprovided, Each credit card bears an elongate [76] lnvemor: Laszlo J.Dobosi, 4317 Markwood strip of sound recording material including arecorded La Fairfax, Va. 22030 code word known only to the owner of thecard. A

plurality of card readmg devices for reproducing the Filed? Mal. 1974code word recorded on said strip are also provided. [21] APPL 448,416:l'he card reading devices each include a housing, an mlet slot in afirst wall of the housing for recelvmg a credit card to be read, anoutlet slot in a second wall US Cl 235/617 235/611 1 of the housing fordischarging a credit card, rotatable 360/2; 360/ 8; 360/105 wheelswithin the housing and positioned such that, on

[ 006k G1 lb 01 lb rotation of the wheels, the card is transported in a606k l9/00 straight path through the housing. The card reading Field 0iSearch 235/617 61 l i device also includes sound reproducing means forre- 235l /5.1; N producing the code word recorded on the strip which 3346/74 MP includes a sound reproducing head moveably mounted within thehousing and moveable between a first posi- [56] References ted tion inwhich the head is spaced from the straight path UNITED STATES PATENTSand a second position in which the head is in sound 2.542;,011 4/1951Frost 35/35 repmduclng association with the strip for Pmducing 2,849,5428/l958 MacChesney 179 1001 the "worded Code WOrd- A trigger member inthe 3,343,2s1 9/1967 Greer 35/35 vice is actuated y motion of the Cardalflng the 3,416,241 12/1968 Weitzner 35/35 straight path and moves thesound reproducing head 3,513,298 5/1970 Riddle 1, 235/61.11 D from thefirst position to the second position for re- 3,629,556 12/1971OI'ZCChOWSltl 235/6l.ll B producing the code word recorded on the 5[ripThe 3,657,521 4/1972 Constable 235/6l.7 B device also includes Sterlingmeans to permit an oper 31351333 $51333 vviflstt'r'fijjjjjjjjjj...;.'3.i?.?."i2'/2 'i m of the device Produced code PrimaryExaminer-Daryl W. Cook Assistant ExaminerRobert M. Kilgore [57] ABSTRACTA credit card utilization system. A plurality of credit word forcomparison with a code word given orally by the card owner.

1 Claim, 4 Drawing Figures CREDIT (TAR!) BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIONThis invention relates to credit cards and. in particular. to anti-theftcredit cards.

While anti-theft credit cards are known. there exists a need forimproved systems and particularly in simple and reliable systems.

It is an object of the invention to provide a simple and reliableanti-theft credit card system.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The foregoing and other objects whichwill be apparent to those having ordinary skill in the art are achievedaccording to the present invention by providing a credit cardutilization system including a plurality of credit cards. each creditcard bearing an elongate strip of sound recording material. the stripbeing disposed lengthwise of the credit card and including a recordedcode word known only to the owner of the card, and a plurality of cardreading devices for reproducing the code word recorded on the strip. thecard reading devices each comprising a housing. an inlet slot in a firstwall of the housing for receiving a credit card to be read. an outletslot in a second wall of the housing for discharging a credit card fromthe card reading device, rotatable wheels within the housing andpositioned such that a card introduced into the device is supported onthe periphery thereof such that. on rotation of the wheels, the card istransported in a straight path through the housing from the inlet slotto the outlet slot, means for rotating the wheels. sound reproducingmeans adjacent the straight path for reproducing the code word recordedon the strip and comprising a sound reproducing head moveably mountedwithin the housing and moveable between a first position in which thehead is spaced from a card in the straight path and a second position inwhich the head is in sound reproducing association with the strip on acard in the straight path for reproducing the recorded code word. atrigger member actuated by motion of the card in the straight path formoving the sound reproducing head from the first position to the secondposition for reproducing the code word recorded on the strip. means forbiasing the head into the first position. and listening means to permitan operator of the device to listen to the reproduced code word forcomparison with a code word given orally by the card owner.

The card is utilized by being passed through the device. The operatorcompares the reproduced code word with a code word given orally to theoperator by the card owner.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION There follows a detailed description of a preferredembodiment of the invention. together with accompanying drawings.However. it is to be understood that the detailed description andaccompanying drawings are provided solely for the purpose ofillustrating a preferred embodiment and that the invention is capable ofnumerous modifications and variations apparent to those skilled in theart without departing front the spirit and scope of the invention.

FIG. I is a perspective view of a credit card reading device accordingto the invention;

FIG. 2 is an end view of the device of FIG. I with the top portion ofthe exterior housing removed;

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FIG. 3 is a top view of the device of FIG. I with the exterior housingin section;

FIG. 4 is a side elevation view of the device of FIG. I with theexterior housing in section.

With reference to FIG. 4. a card reading device according to theinvention includes an exterior plastic box housing l0, measuring 5 7/16inches long. 4 inches wide. and 3 3H6 inches high. One end 11 of box isprovided with a card inlet slot 12 large enough to admit standard creditcards in current use. The other end 13 of box 10 is provided with a cardoutlet slot 14.

In the lower portion l5 of housing 10 are provided card guide members17. card advancing wheels 18 driven by belt 19 driven through reductiongearing 20 by 6 volt motor 21. a transistorizcd sound reproducingamplifier 22 with accompanying power supply 23 and wiring, and atransformer 24 for low voltage motor 21.

In the upper portion 16 of housing 10 are provided a sound reproducinghead 25 and trigger members 26. Sound reproducing head 25 is pivotablymounted on hinges 27 and is held in a first. basic. position by mcans ofa spring 28 so as to be out of the straight path followed by a creditcard on passing through the device from inlet slot 12 to outlet slot 13.Trigger member 26 is also biased in a clockwise direction in the senseof FIG. 4 by means of spring 29. A rigid support member 30 (see FIG. 4)integral with housing I0, is provided beneath sound responding head 25to provide a bearing surface during reproduction of a code word recordedon a credit card.

A credit card is provided with a non-removable clongate strip of soundreproducing material such as used in a phonograph record for highfidelity sound. A code word known only to the card owner is recorded onthe strip of recording material. The code word could be. for example. acommonly used English language word such as apple". blue". fifty crowdor the middle name of the card owner where the middle name is notwritten on the card. Upon presentation ofthe card to a retailer forpurchase. the retail sales agent would ask the person tendering the cardfor the code word or ask the middle name. depending on the particularsystem adopted. The sales agent would then insert the card into entryslot 12 and energize motor 21 to cause the card to pass at apre-determined linear speed through the device. The device can beprovided with any convenient transducer. such as a telephone typelistening device, to permit the sales agent to compare the recorded codeword to that given orally by the user. Preferably. the listening devicewould permit discrete listening by the sales agent only.

What is claimed is:

I. A credit card utilization system comprising a plurality of creditcards. each credit card bearing an clongatc strip of sound recordingmaterial. said strip being disposed lengthwise of the credit card andincluding a recorded code word known only to the owner of the card. anda plurality of card reading devices for reproducing the code wordrecorded on said strip. said card reading devices each comprising ahousing. an inlet slot in a first wall of the housing for receiving acredit card to be read, an outlet slot in a second wall ofthc housingfor discharging a credit card from said card reading device. rotatablewheels within said housing and positioned such that a card introducedinto said device is supported on the periphery thereof such that, onrotation of said wheels. said card is transported in a straight cordedcode word. a trigger member actuated by motion of said card in saidstraight path for moving said sound reproducing head from said firstposition to said second position for reproducing the code word recordedon said strip, means for biasing said head into said first position. andlistening means to permit an operator ot' the device to listen to thereproduced code Word for comparison with a code word given orally hy thecard owner,

1. A credit card utilization system comprising a plurality of creditcards, each credit card bearing an elongate strip of sound recordingmaterial, said strip being disposed lengthwise of the credit card andincluding a recorded code word known only to the owner of the card, anda plurality of card reading devices for reproducing the code wordrecorded on said strip, said card reading devices each comprising ahousing, an inlet slot in a first wall of the housing for receiving acredit card to be read, an outlet slot in a second wall of the housingfor discharging a credit card from said card reading device, rotatablewheels within said housing and positioned such that a card introducedinto said device is supported on the periphery thereof such that, onrotation of said wheels, said card is transported in a straight paththrough said housing from said inlet slot to said outlet slot, means forrotating said wheels, sound reproducing means located adjacent saidstraight path for reproducing the code word recorded on said strip andcomprising a sound reproducing head moveably mounted within said housingand moveable between a first position in which the head is spaced from acard in said straight path and a second position in which the head is insound reproducing association with said strip on a card in said straightpath for reproducing said recorded code word, a trigger member actuatedby motion of said card in said straight path for moving said soundreproducing head from said first position to said second position forreproducing the code word recorded on said strip, means for biasing saidhead into said first position, and listening means to permit an operatorof the device to listen to the reproduced code word for comparison witha code word given orally by the card owner.